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Fernando Alonso still has some work to do to get back in the F1 championship chase. Photo by LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC

Ferrari boss still confident in title bid

October 14, 2012

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Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali says that Fernando Alonso is still very much in the 2012 championship fight, despite losing the lead to Sebastian Vettel in Korea.

Domenicali says that two first lap accidents in the past five races have contributed to Alonso losing the lead, and it’s not related to a turnaround in form.

“First of all we need to stay very cool,” said Domenicali. “Don’t forget of the last five races we have not raced in two, so the situation in the championship would be totally different if we were not out at the first corner. Don’t underestimate this important factor, in the light of the championship. Unfortunately, this may have a heavy effect, although let’s see what is going to happen at the end.

We have seen, for example, one of our main competitors [McLaren] very, very strong up to Saturday, and today in the race had a different pace. So things can turn up in a different way very quickly.”

He added that the team has to keep up in the development race, which Alonso has suggested Ferrari has been losing.

“For us, for sure the objective is to make sure that we deliver to Fernando the best car that we have—first of all in terms of reliability, second to make sure that what we have is the right choice in terms of package, and third to make sure that the next races—as I’m sure Red Bull will try to do—to bring the developments that will let the car doing the right step in the right direction, because the Red Bull that we have seen on the last couple of Grands Prix was for sure very, very strong.

“As I said, the championship is very, very long. It will be a very tough and sporting challenge up to the end: That I’m pretty sure of.”